Mex

Moderator

Posts : 595Points : 1056Join date : 2010-09-02

Firstly let me say that Doncaster was a huge success. I was not going to write anything for a while but due to numerous messages I have decided that for now I will continue. Phelan showed some class last week and took the win from Kim Kardashian who probably should have won. Marks are marks and all I tell my athletes is to run off what you are given and hopefully when we peak you are thereabouts. Small handicap or large makes no difference to whether or not you deserve to win, our sport is based on everyone being competitive. I will leave it at that.

Bendigo is one of the time honoured gifts on our calendar. As Youngy shared in another thread we have seen some quality runs, when Ireland won he would have had to make the choice to take Bendigo over a chance at Stawell which he may very well have been competitive in. To run 12.14sec and not win is tough to take. In more recent times, Spencer ran super quick here and I have waited for him to recapture that form. One thing is for sure, the track is quick, times are too and a good mix of handicaps usually make the final. I know who I would like to win but I feel that they are off the pace this year. A certain stable has up to 5 chances at the final and I think one will be set for this weekend.Who do you like.

YETI

Posts : 49Points : 49Join date : 2018-01-03

Bendigo is always a highlight on the VAL calendar. We saw Romanin salute and take Bendigo out in a slick time last year. Which he went on to make the Stawell final Final:Carter HoulihanEschebachRookeBurleighLugo

Trackstar

Moderator

Posts : 311Points : 442Join date : 2010-07-29Location : Melbourne

YETI wrote:Bendigo is always a highlight on the VAL calendar. We saw Romanin salute and take Bendigo out in a slick time last year. Which he went on to make the Stawell final Final:Carter HoulihanEschebachRookeBurleighLugo

Winner: Rooke

Is this the same Tim Rooke from Avondale Heights? Would be a huge improvement in 2 weeks to win Bendigo.

Willo the Whisp

Posts : 27Points : 44Join date : 2012-04-02Location : Melbourne

He hit a major pothole in that run when he was in the black lane and it ruined that run completely making that run an automatic NAP. FYI - It actually also aggravated a pre existing knee injury that has been troubling him and he contemplated not even starting in the Don later that day. He made reference to this at his presentation later that night if you bothered to listen and if were observant you would have also noticed the amount of massage work to keep the knee warm was beyond extensive that night. His recent MRI results have shown 2 inflamed cysts on his anterior cruciate. If the knee gets cold or has long breaks between runs it locks up on him.

youngy

Very interesting to see SA athlete Liam Moss entered for Bendigo. He recorded a 100m PB of 10.78sec on Saturday. He easily beat Sebastian Baird who won the Loxton Gift last week.

I wouldn't think the PB would affect his mark. So off 5.50m he's a chance to final if he can reproduce that sort of form at Bendigo; although Moss doesn't seem to run as well on grass under handicap conditions than he does in amateur comps.

He does have an ASA team based competition scheduled on Friday night, It's the second round of the new "Synergy" series so I expect him to be turning out for his team in the 200m on Friday night. Whether that prevents him from running at Bendigo, I guess we'll have to wait and see.

OldandSlow

Posts : 71Points : 79Join date : 2013-01-21

This is race is wide open with multiple chances and is looking like we'll have a great line up. Personally I thought Phelan was building for another crack at Bendigo but last week proved me wrong. I also like Woodhams and if he fires it should be a one man race at the end as I dont think anyone can match him for speed off that mark. Lugo and Max will be very close and both should final based on past few weeks. Should be an exciting weekend.

youngy

Admin

Posts : 1434Points : 2519Join date : 2010-07-19Location : Adelaide

One thing that could change the dynamics of the race is flipping the track around. For the first time since 1982 the track will run south to north OR if you are watching from the hill near the bookies stand and the bar, it is now running left to right.

I can't think of a decent reason why they would do this. It has worked well for 35 years and seems logical to finish at the end where most of the crowd sits/stands. If anyone can enlighten us at why they have changed direction, it would be much appreciated.

Runforit

Posts : 18Points : 24Join date : 2017-02-14

I reckon it is for the corporates!!

If memory serves there was tables, chairs, umbrellas etc down at the scoreboard end last year. I can't remember them being massively patronised, but I guess if they paid some hard earned sponsorship $ they may have complained?

Surely they could have come up with a better compromise than that, and hopefully they don't turn the 400m track around anytime soon!

timrosen35

Posts : 69Points : 89Join date : 2014-03-27

Youngy, the entire 70m track is downhill at Bendigo, therefore at least the last 70 of the gift track is downhill (possibly a bit more). So now it’ll be mainly uphill if they switch it. Downhill and the great surface is why there’s always fast times at Bendigo. I think the end of the opal appears uphill because it’s the end of a 400

Last edited by timrosen35 on Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:18 am; edited 1 time in total

timrosen35

Posts : 69Points : 89Join date : 2014-03-27

I don’t know why it only posted 1/3rd of my message then? Anyway I also wrote I don’t know why they’d switch the gift track around. It makes no sense! The atmosphere at Bendigo is one of the best in the VAL and having the race finish surrounded by the crowd is what makes it so amazing. I see no logical reason why they’ve switched it. Wrong decision IMO

youngy

Admin

Posts : 1434Points : 2519Join date : 2010-07-19Location : Adelaide

timrosen35 wrote:Youngy, the entire 70m track is downhill at Bendigo, therefore at least the last 70 of the gift track is downhill (possibly a bit more). So now it’ll be mainly uphill if they switch it. Downhill and the great surface is why there’s always fast times at Bendigo. I think the end of the opal appears uphill because it’s the end of a 400

It has been a long time since I ran there so I'm happy to be corrected.

I see Murray Dinan ran in the Doncaster Gift. It's a pity he's not entered for the 120m at Bendigo. Had he been running this Saturday, he would have been the only competitor in the field to have run both ways.

GLPR

Elmer Fudd

Posts : 10Points : 12Join date : 2017-05-10

youngy wrote:

timrosen35 wrote:Youngy, the entire 70m track is downhill at Bendigo, therefore at least the last 70 of the gift track is downhill (possibly a bit more). So now it’ll be mainly uphill if they switch it. Downhill and the great surface is why there’s always fast times at Bendigo. I think the end of the opal appears uphill because it’s the end of a 400

It has been a long time since I ran there so I'm happy to be corrected.

I see Murray Dinan ran in the Doncaster Gift. It's a pity he's not entered for the 120m at Bendigo. Had he been running this Saturday, he would have been the only competitor in the field to have run both ways.

Mex

Moderator

Posts : 595Points : 1056Join date : 2010-09-02

Interesting to see that two of the athletes mentioned this week have had their coach or affiliate speak on their behalf to defend their results. I think Rooke is quality and gearing for a tilt at another good gift. Why not this week? Same with Woodhams, quality and looking sharp. Good luck to both of those athletes who have worked their way back from injury.

Dale Woodhams 7.75m / Jason Blood 8m - 13% - Woodhams as got back in shape. He looks quick over a 70m and may just be going well enough to take out a gift in Vic. Can he take Bendigo? I do not see why not. He could ossibly have enough already, could it be an old fashioned sting on the one remaining bookie for the Calcutta? I think that these votes may be more for Woodhams than Blood.

Leigh Phelan9.5m / Max Punchihewa 9.5m - 8% - Phelan showed true masters class in the final last week and took out a well deserved Gift win. His mark will reflect the win when he runs but why could he not make the final? He ran second at Bendigo last season and only needs to run that well again to finish top four. The King of the Gifts has referred to him before as a fossil. Well, this fossil will cause havoc for the remainder of the season. Final definitely a chance. Punch and Judy has made a very positive shift to work with NF. He has been thereabouts in gift finals and could be one of the finalists for sure. His training mates could also join him. I feel that he is not the one to win here though.

Rupert Lugo 10.75m / Nick Magree - 10.75m - 15%- Lugo could be the main man of the group this week. He should fight this off from Kim K. A beer or two on the way up may be all he needs. He has very quick leg turn over and once he wins a gift will focus on stealing the 70m crown at Stawell again. Magree is another athlete who is a chance to do some damage off the front. He tends to get beaten out of the blocks but is strong enough to fight back. He is probably due a bigger gift win than he has had in the past.

Tim Rosen 14m / Paul Hughes 15m - 10% - The Man has a winning mark again and could make a charge at the few remaining finals. I feel that he has not quite hit his straps yet and has had a quiet year by his standards. Perhaps there is a race with his name on it at the end of the season. Probably about 178m long or thereabouts. Hughes is to be discounted at your peril. He can run a 12.50 off this mark and on the quick track he may sneak away briefly. He could make the final but I think a semi may be his best result.